Freezing tray



June 17, 1947. w. DALTON 2,422,473

FREEZING TRAY Filed Jan; 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor:

William Danton,

41W by limttorney J lie 17, 1947.

W. DALTON FREEZING TRAY Filed Jan. 25, 1937 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imvefitor:

William Dalton,

ttorney.

June 17, 1947. w. DALTON FREEZING TRAY Filed Jan 23, 1957 3 Sheets-Shut 3 Ir'\ventor*. William Dalton, b flwyiflu lam HisAttorney.

' ing tray ing ice blocks therefrom;

Patented June 17 1947 William Dalton,

New York FREEZING 'raAY,

Schenectady, N; Y., asslgnor' to General Electric Company,

a corporation of Application January 23, 1937, Serial Nc.122,o54

9 Claims. (Cl. 62 -1085) 1 My invention relates to freezing trays for refrigerating machines, and more particularly to dividers for such freezing trays.

Many types of mechanical. refrigerating machines, and particularly those adapted for domestic use, are provided with a, cooling un'it adapted to receive freezing trays filled with water, ingredients for ice-cream, or other substances, to be frozen. These freezing trays are filled with the substance to be frozen and placed upon a surface of the cooling unitof the refrigerating machine until the substance is frozen.

A divider is commonly provided in freezing trays of this type in order to divide the same into a number of small compartments, so that the ice or other substance in'thefreezing tray will be frozen in the form of small blocks or cubes. The divider is preferably removable from the freezing tray to facilitate removal of the ice cubes therefrom. After the ice blocks or the like have been frozen in the freezing tray, the tray is removed from the. cooling unit of the refrigerating machine, placed in water to thaw the ice blocks, and the divider and ice cubes contained therein are removed from the freezing tray. The ice blocks may then be individually removed from the'divider for use as deslredjf It is an object of my invention to provide a re movable divider of simpl construction'and embodying an arrangement facilitating mechanical removal of-ice cubes therefrom; without the necessity of thawing the ice cubes.

Further'objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds; and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in th claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspeciflcation.

For a better understandingof my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional. -view of a freezing tray containing a divider embodying my-invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the divider shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof abar employed in removing ice blocks from the divider;

Fig. 4' is a longitudinal sectional view of a freezcontaininga modified form of the divider and a slide carried sectionalv view, similar tong, 4, showing the operation of the slide; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the freezing trayand divider shown in Fig. 4; Fig, 7

is a perspective view. of a bar employed in opererably, the

is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the slides carried by the di'vidershown in Figs. 4, 5,6 and 8; Fig. 10 is an exploded fragmentary view of a further modified form of the divider; Fig. 11 is an nlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the divider shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a sectionalview along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is av perspective view of'reduced size illustrating'the divider shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. l I have shown a shallow rectangular metal freezing tray l0 arranged on a supporting surface I I of a suitable cooling unit of a refrigerating machine. The freezing tray III is reinforced at each end to provide a shoulder at the upper edge thereof by rigidly securing a plate l2 to the end of the freezing tray just below the downwardly extending rim Illa provided about the open top thereof.' The freezing tray .lll' contains a divider. B which is preferably made by casting a metal ofhigh thermal conductivity such as aluminum.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, the divider l3 comprises a continuous longitudinal partition element the divider which contain ice, blocks gll. {Prefpartition elements are of'tapered cross-section,

bottom towards the top,

the ice blocks H. The member it serves to reextending from the longitudinal partition element I over theice block compartments and constituting shoulders IS on, each side of the member which facilitate removal of the ice blocks H from by thev divider for forc- Fig.5 is a longitudinal,

the divider. The memberlialso extends from the longitudinal partition element M at each end v thereof to provide; together with portions cut away from the longitudinal partition element, shoulders 19 at each end of thedivider. These shoulders iii are e'mployedin removin g'th'e d'i-L vider l3 from the freezing tray l0. I

, A rigid element or bar '20 provided with .a

straight flattened end 2| and a curved flattened end 22, shown in Fig. 3, is employed in removing;

in remov- A ter the the divider from'the freezing tray and ing the ice blocks from the divider,

water placed in the freezing tray, l 0 has been' frozen into the ice blocks ll, the freezingtray is l4 and I5 cooperate to v form ice block compartments oneachfside' of,

increasing in thickn'ess from' the to facilitate ready re-v moval therefrom, in a downwardly directi'on,,,of

' divider and collected in the freeztn'gtr'ay l9. 1

' plurality'of, transversepaittiltio a member 33 arranged alone he upper edge of .i

I side of the mem to cause the "curved end 22 thereof to break the. frozen bond between the freezingtray l and the supporting surface ll of the cooling unit. The freezing tray i0 and the divider l3 contained therein is then removed from the cooling unit.

The divider l3 carrying the ice blocks I1 is then separated or removed from the freezing tray ill by placing an end of the bar 20 between the shoulder on one of the reinforced ends of the freezing tray I0 and one of the shoulders progagement with the shoulders 34 thereon by a U-shaped sheet metal clip 39 embracing the sides of the slides. A plurality. of equallyspaced wedges or projections having inclined faces 39 are provided along the lower edge of each of the slides 35 in contact with'the upper surfaces of the ice blocks IT. The spacing of the wedges 39 on the slides 35 corresponds to the spacing of thetransverse partition elements 32. if

As will be seen in Figs. 6 and 9, the curved end 33 of each of the slides 35 extends about an end of the member 33. A steel insert 40 is provided "on each end of the member 33 anda steel insert ment with-the steel inserts 40.

vided' on the divider by the member I9 extending along the upper edge of the longitudinal partition H element [4. The bar is then swung downwardly causing the end thereof to exert a force 4| is provided on the inside face of the curved end 36 of each of the slides 35 in longitudinal align- Normally the slides 35 occupy retracted positions as shown in. Fig. 4. Intheretracted positions of the slides 35 the curved ends 36 overlie the reinforced ends of the freezing tray l0, and the wedges 39 occupy positions adjacent the transverse partition elebetween the reinforced endj'of the freezing tray l0 and, the divider I 3, which breaks the divider and ice blocks carried thereby away from the freezing tray. 'Each of the ice blocks I1 is indishoulder I8 thereabove, provided on the member H5. The bar 20 'is then swung downwardly causing the curved end 22 thereof to exert a downward .vidually separated or removed from the divider l3 merits 32. The slides can be moved longitudi! nally withrespect to the member 33 by an eleflattened end 43 and an angularly projecting flattened end 44, as shown in' Fig. 7.

In usingthis freezing tray, the-divider: is..- placed in the tray, and the tray is filled withwater until the major portion of the wedges 39 are covered with water. The freezing tray .isthen placed upon the supporting surface Ilof acoolforce upon the top surface of the ice block ll,

thereby readily breaking a frozen bond betweentheice blocl; i1 and the divider l3 and forcing the ice block I! from the dividerl3 due to the As many ice blo'clgs as are desired may be removed from the divider without thawing the ice blocks,

ing unit and the water is frozen into ice blocks I'I.

The freezing'tray is then removed from the cooling unit by placing the end 44 ofthe bar-42 between 85 tapered construction of the partition elements.

orall' of the ice blocks may be removed from the In Fig- I have-fs o .d' re lnsitray 1 of the construction previouslyde scrib'ed;containing;

a modified form of the divider, designated generally'by the numeral 30;, divider is' also preferablyfmade by cast ingja metal of high a continuous 10' gitudinal the longitudinal part t oiilelemnt .31 above the ice block compartmentsasbesjt shown in Figs. "5."

' 6 and,a. f Preferablylthe attitid elements a| and f32 are. of tapered cros section, increasing inf thickness from the .bottoiny'towards the top. to

' facilitate ready removal "therefrom, in a down I wardly direction, fthid blocks 11. The mem-L 1 the supporting surface ll of the, coolingunit and I the reinforcing plate l2- on the end ofthe freezing tray I'll; The bar is-then swung downwardly .to cause the end 44 thereof to break the frozen bond between. the freezing tray l0 and, the supporting surface i I of the cooling unit. 1 The freezing tray- 7 10 and the divider 30 :contained thereinds then removed from the cooling unita': The divider-30.1; with the ice blocks l1 therein is then separatedor removed from the freezing tray lll-by'placing an end of the bar 42 between the shoulder; on one of the reinforced-'- ends .of the freezing '-tray--' 1 II: and Y one of the shoulders 3'l'provided-ronthe dividenby; 3 the curved'ends 36 of-the-slides";35.-:-.The bar is-- thenswungvdownwardly-causing the end thereof to exert aforcebetween thereinforcedendoffthe freezing tray. In and-the divider-39.:which bmaks 5' the divider nd ice blocks carried therebyg away- 1 from the freezing tray. -.-The:angularly project-w ing flattened end 44'-'of thebar 1.42 is-then placed between the steel insert-40 carried "by: one end of the member 33 and the steelfinsertll carried by the curved end 36=of-one:of the-slides-35u The:

ber33 is preferably cast .ir1iteeri-i1 with the divider. i Y

and serves to reinforce. thefdivider 30. The mmfl ber 33*is provided withfflang'es extending from f the' longitudinal, I rtition element 3| over the ice block compartm elements and e elongated form'a" ubstantially LrSh'aped cross}.

section is slidablyl carried on each ,side ofthe member 33 by' theshoulders "3 4 formed thereon and extendslongitudinally'over a'plurality of the ice block compartments. These slides may also be made by casting a suitable metal, or in any other convenient-manner. The slides 35 are provi' dedfwith curved ends 36' which extendo'ver thfej reinforced ends of the freezing-tray. i9 and constitute-shoulders 3l'to facilitate'removal of the i 11\'rider 30 from the freezing tray. The slides 35 are secured to the member 33 in Sliding en tits. formed by the p ti o tuting "shoulders 34 on'e'a'ch 7 An element or slide 35 of I bar isthen swung ina horizontal plane-causing ,1 the slide-'35to be slid: longitudinally along the member 33.; The sliding;movemen t of the slide 35 causes the wedges 39 provided. along the lower edge thereof to exert a downward force upon'the A top surfaces of the ice blocks lltcarried by one side of the divider. 30,-thereby breaking a frozen bond'between the ice blocks l1 and the divider and forcing the ice blocks from one side of the divider. The'ice blocks l'l carried by the other side of-the divider are removed in a similar 'manner by sliding the other slide.35 longitudinally along the member '33. The slidestogether with the wedges thereon. thus serve as rigid elements for exerting force between the reinforcing member 33 and the-tops of the ice blocks.

In Fig. 10,-.1 have shown ai' further modifiedv .iorin or the divider designated generally by the numeral 50. This construction forms the subject matter of my divisional application Serial No.-

I through the slots '52 in the longitudinal partition element 5| and secured in place. The longitudinal partition element 5| is formed of a metallic sheet bent upon itself at 54, as will be seen in Fig. 12. The edges 55 of the sheet opposite the bend 54 are flanged outwardly in opposite directions, and a reinforcing member 56 is rigidly secured to the flanged edges 55 of the sheet along its length by spot welding as indicated at 51 in Fig. 13. The partition elements 5| and 53 constitute a core and are provided with a suitable covering 58, which preferably is of tapered cross-section, increasing in thickness from the bottom towards the top, to facilitate readyremoval therefrom of ice blocks. Preferably, the covering 58 is made of a Water-resistant plastic composition, such as rubber or other suitable water-resistant material, and is moulded around the metallic core. I

The reinforcing member 55 extends from the longitudinal partition element 5| at each end thereof to provide shoulders 59 at each end of the divider. The member 56 is provided with flanges extending from the longitudinal partition element 5| over the ice block compartments formed by the partition elements and constituting shoulders 60 on each side of the reinforcing member.

The divider 50 is separated or removed from a freezing tray in which it is carried, and ice blocks carried by the divider50 are separated or removed therefrom, by an element or bar cooperating with the shoulders 59 and 50, respectively, provided on the reinforcing member 55, in a manner similar to that described in connection with the form of the divider shown in Fig. -1.

It will be evident from the foregoing that I have provided a divider of reinforced construction, embodying an arrangement facilitating removal of the divider from a freezing tray and facilitating removal of ice blocks from the divider,

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and I do not,'therefore, desire my invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition element, a plurality of transverse partition elements carried by said longitudinal partition element I and adapted to cooperate therewith and with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments, a member extending along the upper edge of said longitudinal partition element, said member having a shoulder extending over said compartments, and means including a slide carried by said shoulder for breaking a frozen bond between an ice block disposed in one of said compartments and said partition elements.

2. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition element, a plurality of transverse partition elements carried by said longitudinal partition lement and adapted to cooperate therewith and with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments, a member extending along the upper edge of said longitudinal partition element, said member having a shoulder extending over said compartments, a slide carried by said shoulder, said slide being provided with a plurality of wedges adapted to engage corresponding ice blocks carried in said compartments, and means including said slide for'breaking a frozen bond between an ice block disposed in one of said compartments and said partition elements.

3. In combination with a removable divider for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition element and a plurality of transverse partition elements carried by said longitudinal partition element and adapted to cooperate therewith and with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments, a slide carried by the top of said divider and having an inclined face adapted to directly engage the top surface of an ice block carried in one of said compartments, and means including said slide for breaking a frozen bond between an ice block disposed in one of said compartments and said partition elements.

4. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition element, a plurality of transverse partition elements carried by said longitudinal partition element and adapted to cooperate therewith and with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments on each side thereof, a member extending along the upper edge of said'longitudinal partitionelement, said member having a shoulder on each side thereof extending over said compartments, a slide carried on each side of said member by said shoulders, each of said slides being provided with a plurality of wedges adapted to engage corresponding ice blocks carried in said compartments, and means including said slides for breaking frozen bonds between ice blocks disposed in said compartments and said partition elements.

5. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a plurality of partitionelements adapted to cooperate with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments, and means for forcing ice blocks from said compartments, said means including an elongated element slidably carried by the top of said divider and extending longitudinally of said divider over a plurality of said compartments.

6. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition element, a plurality of transverse partition elements carried by said longitudinal partition element and adapted to cooperate therewith and with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments, and means for' forcing ice blocks from said compartments, said means including an elongated element slidably carried by the top of said longitudinal partition element and extending along said longitudinal partition element over a plurality of said compartments.

'l. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition element, a plurality of transverse partition elements carried by said longitudinal partition element and adapted to cooperate therewith and with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments, a member extending along the upper edge of said longitudinal partition element, and means for breaking a frozen bond between an ice block disposed in one of said compartments and said partition elements, said means including an elongated element slidably carried by said member and extending longitudinally ,of said member over a plurality of said compartments.

8. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a plurality of partition elements adapted ably carried by the top of said divider and ex- 'tending longitudinally of said divider over a plurality of said compartments.

9. A removable divider for freezing trays comprising a longitudinal partition element, a. plurality of transverse partition elements carried by said longitudinal partition element and adapted to cooperate therewith and with a freezing tray to form ice block compartments, and means for breaking a frozen bond between an ice block disposed in one of said compartments and said partition elements, said means including an elongated element slidably carried by the top of said 7 Number Name Date 1,802,190 Wardman Apr. 21, 1931 1,956,761 Fuller May 1, 1934' 2,009,803 Hallock July 30, 1935 2,035,543 Gaugler Mar. 31,1936 2,037,364 Brownstein Apr. 14,1936 2,037,517 Saler Apr. 14, 1936 1,958,392 Hoflerberth May 8, 1934 2,093,856 Wales Sept.21, 1937 2,098,924 Newill' Nov. 9, 1937 1,879,400

longitudinal partition element and extending along said longitudinal partition element over a plurality of said compartments.

' i DALTON.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATE PATENTS Mitchell Sept. 2'7, 1932 

